Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1887-04-28
PRRisHED IN TnE FIRE.
Au Alarm I'm the Night Causes
Death. Injury, and Gal
liant Reseues.

A Pittsburgh pa special gives the
following particulars OF the fatal fire
in Allegheny City, mentioned in our
Geographic columns yesterday One OF
the most disastrous fires in this vicinity
for some time broke ont this morning
in Tillis Brothers grocery, corner OF
Iacock and Corey streets, Allegheny
City, entailing loss of life, besides IN
jury to several people and the destruc-
ton of considerable property.
The fout-story building, the largest
in the neighborhood, is used as
grocery by the Willis brothers.
Charles, John, and George. They and
their mother, with some dodgers, oc-
cupy the upper stories. Shortly after
o'clock Mrs. Willis was awakened by
a cracking noise and the smell of
smoke. Arising she saw sparks coming
up the elevator in the rear portion OF
the building. She at once aroused the
inmates, and at the same time people
on the outside discovered the fire and
gave the alarm. The flames spread
rapidly, and before the engines arrived
had gained great Roadway.
EFFORTS AT RESCUE.
A number of people were known to
he in the burning building, and the
Aremen Immediately ran ladders to tue
various stories of the building, while
the policemen turned their attention to
breaking in the doors and fighting their
way to the rooms of the unfortunates.
Upstairs, bewildered by the smoke
and flames, were Mrs. Willis, Miss
Olive Willis, Miss Mary Willis, John
Willis. William Eberman, employed as
driver by the firm two Greeks,
named Hoggitzrun and Prellerigen,
who work for the Greek-American
Candy Company, and roomed in the
building; Fred. Shultz, an employs of
the firm Charles Willis, George Will
lis, and Miss Sophie Boles.
GALLANT LIFE-sAvERs.
The smoke was thick and hung
through passages and Railways IN clouds
80 dense that a lantern gave no light.
10 open a window from one of the
ladders thrown up against the building
WIS to meet cloud of suffocating yapor,
but into it all. both firemen and police
men. plunged. Some fell and had to be
dragged out, but they managed to push
on until the third floor was gained, and
the work of rescue was begun. The
heads of the frightened women were
enyeloped in cloths, and they were car
RED out, all uninjured, except Sophie
Eoles. She could not be found, and
almost from the first was looked upon
as lost.
AN APPALLING INCIDENT.
One OF the most appalling incidents
Of the fire was the jumping of two of
the people from the building while the
fremen were fighting their way up
stairs, and an awe-struck crowd stood
on the streets gazing up at the con-
fagation. William Eberman appeared
at the window on the third floor. He
vas too far gone to shout, but he was
seen, and the crowd yelled to him to
bold ON. A ladder went up and a man
hastily started to help the suffering
nan. When the rescuer had reached
VIC SPCODu HoOI GuCIlndu NuS oCtu W
iurch forward and then come down
With rush. Whether he fell or jump
al could not be told, the movement
vas so quick lie struck on his head
and shoulders and was picked up I'M
conscious.
THE GREEKS FALL,
One of the Greeks, Hoggitzrun, a
powerful, well-built man, was the other
victim. His room was on the fourth
floor. The bravery of nan in the
crowd probably saved his life. The
Greek had poised himself on the sill,
Looked Mt the flames behind and the
pavement below, aud then made the
Wild spring from the sill. Just as his
tOdy shot downward n man from the
crowd ran forward and, with his
AIMS outstretched, caught the falling
hody. It's force sent him to the ground
with the Greek, but the latter's head
bit the pavement, and it is thought his
skull is fractured. The man who had
run this risk for stranger disappeared
and the Greek was carried to the hos
pital.